A new method of calculating attentional bias from the dot-probe task measures fluctuations in bias towards and away from emotional stimuli over time using trial level bias score metrics. We assessed the stability and reliability of traditional attentional bias scores and trial level bias score measures of attentional bias across time in two five-block dot-probe task experiments in non-clinical samples. In experiments 1 and 2, both traditional attentional bias scores and trial level bias score measures of attentional bias did not habituate/decrease across time. In general, trial level bias score metrics (i.e., attention bias variability as well as the mean biases toward and away from threat) were more reliable than the traditional attention bias measure. This pattern was observed across both experiments. The traditional bias score, however, did improve in reliability in the later blocks of the fearful face dot-probe task. Although trial level bias score measures did not habituate and were more reliable across blocks, these measures did not correlate with state or trait anxiety. On the other hand, trial level bias score measures were strongly correlated with general reaction time variability—and after controlling for this effect no longer superior in reliability in comparison to the traditional attention bias measure. We conclude that general response variability should be removed from trial level bias score measures to ensure that they truly reflect attention bias variability.

中文翻译：

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点探针任务中注意偏差测量的稳定性和可靠性：来自传统平均偏差分数和试验级偏差分数的证据

一种从 dot-probe 任务计算注意力偏差的新方法使用试验水平偏差评分指标测量随着时间的推移对情绪刺激的偏向和远离的波动。我们在非临床样本的两个五块点探针任务实验中评估了传统注意偏倚评分和试验水平偏倚评分测量的稳定性和可靠性，随时间推移注意偏倚。在实验 1 和 2 中，传统的注意偏倚得分和注意偏倚的试验水平偏倚得分测量都没有随着时间的推移而习惯/减少。一般来说，试验级别的偏差评分指标（即注意偏差可变性以及对威胁和远离威胁的平均偏差）比传统的注意偏差度量更可靠。在两个实验中都观察到了这种模式。然而，传统的偏差分数，在可怕的面部点探针任务的后期块中确实提高了可靠性。尽管试验水平的偏倚评分测量没有习惯性，并且在跨块中更可靠，但这些测量与状态或特质焦虑无关。另一方面，试验水平的偏倚评分测量与一般反应时间可变性密切相关——在控制了这种影响后，与传统的注意力偏倚测量相比，可靠性不再优越。我们得出结论，应从试验水平偏倚评分措施中去除一般反应变异性，以确保它们真正反映注意力偏倚变异性。这些措施与状态或特质焦虑无关。另一方面，试验水平的偏倚评分测量与一般反应时间可变性密切相关——在控制了这种影响后，与传统的注意力偏倚测量相比，可靠性不再优越。我们得出结论，应从试验水平偏倚评分措施中去除一般反应变异性，以确保它们真正反映注意力偏倚变异性。这些措施与状态或特质焦虑无关。另一方面，试验水平的偏倚评分测量与一般反应时间可变性密切相关——在控制了这种影响后，与传统的注意力偏倚测量相比，可靠性不再优越。我们得出结论，应从试验水平偏倚评分措施中去除一般反应变异性，以确保它们真正反映注意力偏倚变异性。